Genetic diversity of local pigs in Africa: Literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64707/revstsna.v45i01.2266Keywords:
African local pigs;, Genetic diversity;, Phenotypic characterization;, Molecular markers, Introgression, SelectionAbstract
This article presents a systematic review of the genetic diversity of African local pigs
in a context of rapid herd expansion and increasing pressure from exotic breeds. It
aims to update current knowledge on local pig populations using both phenotypic and
molecular characterization approaches, in order to inform conservation and genetic
improvement strategies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in several
databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus,
GenBank, AJOL), targeting studies on African local pigs, genetic diversity, molecular
markers (microsatellites, SNPs, mitochondrial DNA) and population structure
analyses (He, Ho, allelic richness, selection signatures). Phenotypic studies
consistently reported high intra- and inter-population morphological variability, a
recurrent small body size, marked coat color heterogeneity and clear differences
between geographical areas and production systems, together with evidence of
introgression from European breeds in several regions. Molecular investigations
revealed moderate to high levels of genetic diversity, frequent admixture with
commercial genotypes and multiple ancestries of European and Asian origin, as well
as genomic signatures associated with African swine fever tolerance, resilience and
climate adaptation. Overall, the findings highlight a dual challenge: harnessing this
genetic potential through selection and well-designed crossbreeding programs, while
limiting the erosion of local lineages by regulating introgression from exotic breeds.
An integrated use of morphological data and targeted genetic markers appears crucial
to identify, monitor and conserve valuable local pig lineages and to support
community-based management of pig genetic resources in Africa.
References
Abenga, J.N., Lawal, I.A., 2005. Implicating roles of animal reservoir
hosts in the resurgence of Gambian trypanosomosis (Sleeping
Sickness). African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (2), pp. 134-137.
Adeola, A.C., Oluwole, O.O., Oladele, B.M., Olorungbounmi, T.O.,
Boladuro, B., Olaogun, S.C., Nneji, L.M., Sanke, O.J., Dawuda, P.M.,
Omitogun, O.G., Frantz, L., Murphy, R.W., Xie, H.-B., Peng, M.-S.,
Zhang, Y.-P., 2017a. Analysis of the genetic variation in mitochondrial
DNA, Y-chromosome sequences, and MC1R sheds light on the ancestry
of Nigerian indigenous pigs. Genet Sel Evol 49, 52.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-017-0326-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-017-0326-1
Agbokounou, A.M., Ahounou, G.S., Youssao, A.K.I., Mensah, G.A.,
Koutinhouin, B., Hornick, J.-L., 2016b. Ethnologie et potentialités du
porc local d’Afrique. Journal of Animal &Plant Sciences 29, 4665–
Arthur, B.K., Richard, O.-A., Gregory, D., Arthur, W., Walter, T.W.,
Paul, B., 2018. Phenotypic characterization of pigs and their production
system in Liberia. Int. J. Livest. Prod. 9, 175–183.
https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2018.0474 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2018.0474
Ayizanga, R.A., (2016). Phenotypic characterisation and genetic
diversity of the local pig of Ghana. Doctorate of Philosophy.
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural
Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,
Kumasi, Ghana.
Chebbi, H., Pascual-Villalobos, M.J., Cenis, J.L., Correal, E., 1995.
Caractérisation morphologique et moléculaire des espèces ligneuses du
genre Medicago. Fourrages 142, 191–206.
Djimenou, D., Adoukonou-Sagbadja, H., Chrysostome, C., Koudande,
O.D., 2018. Caractérisation phénotypique des porcs locaux (Sus scrofa
domesticus) au Sud du Bénin. J. Anim. Plant Sci 37, 5956–5975.
D’Orgeval, R., 1997. Le developpement de l’elevage porcin en afrique
Vol. 45, n° 1– janvier - juin 2026 – Sciences Naturelles et Appliquées - Publié le 30 juin 2026
l’analyse des systemes d’elevage du porc local africain au sud-benin
(These de doctorat). Institut national agronomique Paris-Grignon
(1971-2006).
FAO, 2013. Caractérisation phénotypique des ressources génétiques
animales. Directives FAO sur la production et la santé animales, FAO,
FAO, 2012. Secteur porcin Burkina Faso. FAO,2012.
FAO, 2008. L’état des ressources zoogénétiques pour l’alimentation et
l’agriculture dans le monde, édité par Barbara Rischkowsky et Dafydd
Pilling. Commission des Ressources Génétiques pour l’Alimentation et
l’Agriculture, Rome. copyright@fao.org.
FAO, 2001. Pigtrop - tout sur l’élevage porcin et les filières porcines
des pays du Sud - Les populations porcines en Afrique de l’Ouest / Les
porcs du Monde / Encyclopédie / Ressources [WWW Document]. URL
http://pigtrop.cirad.fr/fr/ressources/encyclopedie/les porcs du monde
les populations porcines en Afrique de l'Ouest (accessed 3.10.25).
FAOSTAT, 2019. L’élevage porcin dans les pays tropicaux [WWW
Document]. URL https://www.fao.org/faostat/fr/#data/QCL (accessed
12.25).
Groenen, M.A.M., Archibald, A.L., Uenishi, H., Tuggle, C.K.,
Takeuchi, Y., Rothschild, M.F., Rogel-Gaillard, C., Park, C., Milan, D.,
Megens, H.-J., Li, S., Larkin, D.M., Kim, H., Frantz, L.A.F., Caccamo,
M., Ahn, H., Aken, B.L., Anselmo, A., Anthon, C., Auvil, L., Badaoui,
B., Beattie, C.W., Bendixen, C., Berman, D., Blecha, F., Blomberg, J.,
Bolund, L., Bosse, M., Botti, S., Bujie, Z., Bystrom, M., Capitanu, B.,
Carvalho-Silva, D., Chardon, P., Chen, C., Cheng, R., Choi, S.-H.,
Chow, W., Clark, R.C., Clee, C., Crooijmans, R.P.M.A., Dawson, H.D.,
Analyses of pig genomes provide insight into porcine
demography and evolution. Nature 491, 393–398.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11622 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11622
Halimani, T., Muchadeyi, F., Chimonyo, M., Dzama, K., 2012. Some
insights into the phenotypic and genetic diversity of indigenous pigs in
southern Africa. SA J. An. Sci. 42, 507–510.
https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v42i5.13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v42i5.13
Hlongwane, N.L., Dzomba, E.F., Hadebe, K., Van Der Nest, M.A.,
Pierneef, R., Muchadeyi, F.C., 2024. Identification of Signatures of
Positive Selection That Have Shaped the Genomic Landscape of South
African Pig Populations. Animals 14, 236.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020236 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020236
Hlongwane, N.L., Hadebe, K., Soma, P., Dzomba, E.F., Muchadeyi,
F.C., 2020. Genome Wide Assessment of Genetic Variation and
Vol. 45, n° 1– janvier – juin 2026 – Sciences Naturelles et Appliquées - Publié le 30 juin 2026 635
Population Distinctiveness of the Pig Family in South Africa. Front.
Genet. 11, 344. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2020.00344 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2020.00344
Houaga, I., Mrode, R., Opoola, O., Chagunda, M.G.G., Mwai, O.A.,
Rege, J.E.O., Olori, V.E., Nash, O., Banga, C.B., Okeno, T.O., Djikeng,
A., 2023. Livestock phenomics and genetic evaluation approaches in
Africa: current state and future perspectives. Front. Genet. 14, 1115973.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2023.1115973 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2023.1115973
Kiendrebeogo, T., Logtene, Y., Kondombo, S., Kabore-Zoungrana, C.,
a. Characterization and importance of pig breeds in the pork
industry of the zone of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso, West Africa).
Int. J. Bio. Chem. Sci 6, 1535–1547.
https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v6i4.13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v6i4.13
Logtene, Y.M., Koussou, M.O., Nguertoum, E.A., Tama, A.C.N.,
Lakouetene, T., Awa, D.N., Mal, H.E.M., 2009. Caractéristiques et
performances des élevages porcins urbains et périurbains des savanes
d’Afrique centrale : cas des villes de Garoua, Pala et Bangui. Presented
at the Savanes africaines en développement : innover pour durer, Cirad,
p. 9
Mbaga, S.H., Lymo, C.M., Kifaro, G.C., Lekule, F.P., 2005. Phenotypic
characterization and production performance of local pigs under village
settings in the Southern Highland zone, Tanzania. Anim. Genet. Resour.
Inf. 37, 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1014233900001991 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1014233900001991
Mujibi, F.D., Okoth, E., Cheruiyot, E.K., Onzere, C., Bishop, R.P.,
Fèvre, E.M., Thomas, L., Masembe, C., Plastow, G., Rothschild, M.,
Genetic diversity, breed composition and admixture of Kenyan
domestic pigs. PLOS ONE 13, e0190080.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190080 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190080
Muys, D., Westenbrink, G., Meinderts, J., 2003. L’élevage des porcs
dans les zones tropicales Agrodoc1. Fondation Agromisa, Wageningen,
Pays Bas.
Ndofor-Foleng, H., Iloghalu, O., Onodugo, M., Ezekwe, A., 2015.
Genetic diversity between large white and nigerian indigenous breed of
swine using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Agro-Sci. 13,
https://doi.org/10.4314/as.v13i3.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/as.v13i3.5
Ollivier, L., Chevalet, C., Foulley, J.L., 2000a. Utilisation des
marqueurs pour la caractérisation des ressources génétiques. INRA
Prod. Anim. 13, 247–252. https://doi.org/10.20870/productions-
animales.2000.13.HS.3847
Penrith, M.L., Thomson, G.R., Bastos, A.D.S., Phiri, O.C., Lubisi,
B.A., Du Plessis, E.C., Macome, F., Pinto, F., Botha, B., Esterhuysen,
Vol. 45, n° 1– janvier - juin 2026 – Sciences Naturelles et Appliquées - Publié le 30 juin 2026
J.J., 2004. An investigation into natural resistance to African swine
fever in domestic pigs from an endemic area in southern Africa: -EN- -
FR- -ES-. Rev. Sci. Tech. OIE 23, 965–977.
https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.23.3.1533 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.23.3.1533
Pius, L., Huang, S., Wanjala, G., Bagi, Z., Kusza, S., 2024. African
Local Pig Genetic Resources in the Context of Climate Change
Adaptation. Animals 14, 2407. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162407 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162407
Porphyre, V., 2009. Enjeux et contraintes des filières porcines en
Afrique de l’Ouest.
Porphyre, V., Bastianelli, D., 2019. Editorial - L’élevage porcin dans les
pays tropicaux. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 71, 3–5.
https://doi.org/10.19182/remvt.31682 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19182/remvt.31682
Rothschild, M.F., 2003. Approaches and challenges in measuring
genetic diversity in pigs. Archivos de zootecnia 52, 129–135.
Somenutse, K.G., Aziadekey, M.K., Dayo, G.K., Kulo, A.E., 2021.
Diversité génétique du porc local du Togo : cas de la région maritime et
de la région des Savanes, in: 53es Journées de La Recherche Porcine.
Ifip, pp. 53–54.
Swart, H., Kotze, A., Olivier, P., Grobler, J., 2010. Microsatellite-based
characterization of Southern African domestic pigs (Sus scrofa
domestica). SA J. An. Sci. 40.
https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v40i2.57280 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v40i2.57280
Tapsoba, A.S.R., Akounda, B., Fabiola, G., Sawadogo, S.E., Yougbare,
B., Pinde, S., Sanou, M., Tamboura, H.H., Bayala, B., Traore, A., 2023.
Morphological characterization of Burkina Faso local pig 42.
Traoré, A., Tapsoba, A.S.R., 2018. PROJET GENETIQUE UA-BIRA
Documentation des études de caractérisation, inventaire et surveillance
des tendances et des risques associés aux ressources zoogénétiques
animales en Afrique de l’Ouest (Rapport intérimaire provisoire). UA-
BIRA, Burkina Faso.
Youssao Abdou Karim, I., Dotche, I.O., Seibou Toleba, S., Kassa, K.S.,
Ahounou, S.G., Salifou, C., Dahouda, M., Antoine-Moussiaux, N.,
Dehoux, J.-P., Mensah, G.A., 2018. Caractérisation phénotypique des
ressources génétiques porcines des départements de l’Ouémé et du
Plateau au Bénin. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 71, 59–65.
https://doi.org/10.19182/remvt.31219 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19182/remvt.31219
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
